Scraper



Fel 10,1931. P. GREEN 1,191,526:

Y scRAPsR Filed Feb. 13,'1926 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fd.A 1o, |931.

Filed Feb. 13. 1926 L. P. GREEN scRAPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAA.

Feb.. 1Q,v 1931. L. P. GREEN 1,791,526

SCRAPER Filed Feb. 13, l1925 5 Sheets-.Sheet 3 e6/ej? 5.713670. (9m

Feb. 1o, 1931. L. P. GREEN 1,791,526

SGRPER Filed Feb. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Shoot "4 Patented Feb. 10,1931

FFICE LESLIE r. GRn-EN, or cercado, mariners, AssI,einen.;A BY nesnnnssrenlvrnlvrs;To,

Y 112A J1 Witsen, cr'wrnnnrxe, iLLnvoIs sonarnit Appueaem'mea Februar-yk 1s, leze. snai'N'o. 88,007;

My invention relates to scrapers of the drag type especially adapted io'r use inexcavating work, stripping, leveling, etc, and is ot the type linowvnyas the bottomless scraper, and this invention pertains particularly to the loading and ui'iloading and the control ot the same. v

One of the objectsv of my invention is to provide a. scraper simple in construction and of low cost, theload of which, or the amount of material permitted to be carriedv bythe scraper, can be automatically controlled as desired. i

Another object of my invention is to provide a scraper which, regardless of the posi# tion of' the' dragv cables connected thereto,

can be directed during the cutting operation at an anglev to aV line passing through ther front and rear drag cables-v sothat undermining can be readily obtained and the amount thereof predeterminedly tired or changed' without great? loss of time or eX- pense.

A further object of my invention is to provide ar scraper vwhich canbe forward# dragged along any plane without 'collec-ting any mate 1ial until the desired point of cutting, digging, and collect-ing is reached.

Another object of myl invention is to provide vmeans for automatically scrap-ing the inner sidefandend walls of thev scraper'to remove substantially all themarte'rial'therefrom at each time the scraper is dumped.`

Still kanotherobject is to? provideany type of bottoniless scraper with afloating control member which will be raisedb-y the action'oi1 the material. enteringv the scrapergto any predetermined heightv so that the Aamount of each vindividua-l load or cut of the scraper maybe fixed by the operator to a substantial degree of accuracy;

A further object of myY invention is to provide guiding means for guiding the lled scraper to a diverted point o-rkhunping,

independentof the locationV of thesource'of power.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide'means for forcing thematerial from the interior of the scraper when' the sameis' at a: point where itisdesire'd to dump the material.' This is accomplished by means of forcing the load control member downwardin the` interior of the scraper and such action, assisted fby thef'scraping '-mcmb'ers, will remove substantially all the collected material from the interior of theV scraper.

` Another object in this invention is to provide the scrapery with vmechanisn'i for controlling from a distance the pointat which the' said scraper willtale its load which per-V mitsv the operation of ay pal-r of Scrapers in tandem and control of the same by the person operating the engine 'or other power means which is used for dragging the Scrapers in' the-ircutting and collecting operations.

Other ob'iects and advantages oflthis' inventlon will be manifest andcan be readily understood'and appreciated as the same be-r comes better disclosed by reference to the following description when considered in con-y nection with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

F ig. 1 is a side view 'of my improved scraper showing the same in a'position ready to fbe drawn forward, and the upper dotted lines in said ligure vshow the' position of the various parts after the scraper has been' drawn forward and .completely filled,

F ig. 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a vvertical sectional view taken on the lines 3 3 of Fig. 2,V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of my scraper similar to Fig. l showing the guiding members or ruddersattached to the scraper in both their raisedandlowered position,'

Fig. 5 is a top planview ofa modified torni ior controllingv or adjusting the floating load control member,

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view lof the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of another modified form of control member controlling substantially onehalf of the capacity of the scraper,

Fig. 8 is a side view thereof,

Fig. 9 is a diagramma-tic view of a double scraper system with remote control for lixing the point at which Scrapers lare loaded, and' Fig. 10 is a side view of the same, and

of the arms 33 at the point 68, and these chains are connected to a hook (not shown) or suitable fastening member located at a desired point on the rear wall 20 oi" the scraper.

l prefer however, to obtain this limit control by providing the arm 33 with a graby predetermined point, which tea-ture alonepresents novelty over vany type ot power scraper used at the present time. Y

A pair of channel bars 7l are located within the pyramidal member and are'tasH tened to the/bottom plate in any suitable manu ner and extend along the entire side ot each ot the plates 42. These channel bars have a series et holes throughout the lraces of the saine, through which bolts, not shown, may be passed for bolting the teeth 72 thereto. These teeth extend downwardly through an opening 73 in the bottom plate 36 and run along theA edge of each of the channel .bars 7l and can be bolted on and removed at will through the front opening inthe pyrarnidal ff main forward dragcable 76 is connected with this link 75 for drawing the scraper forward when in the `position shown inthe dotted lines. Connecting also with the point 74 of the link 75 is another cable 77 which passes over the sheave i9 and is fastened to the cable 59 at the point 7 8, and both cables in turn fastened to the main rear dragcable 79. n

At suitable points throughout the bottom plate 36 are a series of staggered holes 8l to which are attached, by bolts 92, a pair ot guide members SS which are preferably formed ot channel bars and may be attached to the said plate so that the depending legs of the same will actas runners or guides parallel with a line drawn through the center ofthe' front and rear cables or may be attached at an angle to the said center line in order to pro vide for undermining, as hereinafter eX- plained.

The floating member 34 may, it desired, be provided with scraping members 208 adapted to extend outwardly at each side and rear-.ot said member, and these scraping members may extend the full length oi. said sides and rearor a series ot smaller units may be employed. I prefer that these members be iicrmally urged outwardly by means of springs (not shown) so that when they i'all between the tapered portions of the sides ot the scraper they will be depressed so as to permit the said floating memberto dropfto-its lowermost position. As the. oatingime'mber'is pivot#v ally mounted on the arms 33 and to a certain degree loosely suspended therefrom, consid-y erable agitation will be Aimparted to said member in its position withinthe sides'and rear of said scraper aiidsuch action will bring the scraping members into contact withthe sides and 'rear and will remoresubstring tially all particles of material adhering thereto.

rlhe operation of my improvedscraper and particularly the form shown in Figs.- l, 24 and 3, is as follows: Let us consider the member Set in its lowered position, afs shown in Fig; l, and the cables 56, 76, 77, and 59, in the position in which they are shown in the full lines. The bracket 40 is held in its lowered position by means ot the dog 63 whose inner curved end or hooky portion engages with the forwardly extending portion of the angle bar 62 so that by reason of the dog-s connection with the larms 33,'the bracket member 40a will be prevented from rising and the member 84 thus held in its lowered position.

rlhe cable 76, upon being diaw-ntorward, will straighten out the slack in the cables 56, andthe cable 77, operating over the sheave wheel 49 in the bracketed)a will be drawn tor-V ward and slack pulled in the cable 59 at the rearot the device. y

As soon as the' scraper has reached the point where it isdesired to cut and collect the material, the upper portion ofthe` dog. 63 is tripped, so as to disengage the hook portion from the forwardly extending portion of the angle bar 62, whereupon the scraper A, by its wear plates 23, 24, and 25, assisted by the teeth 72, will begin to cutl the material and drag such cut material with it, so that the member 34 will be raised as thematerial enters beneath the same, and this amount of rise in the member 23A-may be limited by thechain 69 connected with the arms 33.

Considering that the chain 69 has been so set as to permit the Floating member 34 to rise to the top plane ot the sides 16 and 17 of the scraper A, Vthe parts will, at the time the scraper has vbeen filled, assume a position such as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l. Vhen the scraper is being dragged forward and the dog 63 is engaged with the bar 62-so as to hold the member Bil in its lowermost position, the depending legs on the guide members 88 will bite into the material to be cut and if said guide members have been placed at an angle to the center line drawn between 'the front and rear cables, the scraper proper will swerve from its `direct path to the pathin which it is directed by the said guide members, whether to' the right or to the left, and

as these guide members are always placedparallel to each other, double resistance to the forward drag will be had.` In this'manner, the apparatus'may be used for oi'-centerfsun facing mining or for undermining by being diverted from its forward center line movement for surface mining and driven directly at an embankment or pile of material, for undermining, and when the floating member 34. has been raised from its lowermost position in the scraper A, the guide members 83 will cease to have any further effect upon the guiding of the se 'aper A, so that it will be drawn over into its former position and directly in line with the forward cable (36, and the rear drag cable 69.

Let us assume that the scraper has now been drawn to the place. where it is to be unloaded, andV the parts are in a position such as shown in the dotted lines iu Fig. 1. It is now intended that the scraper should be unloaded. and returned to its former position for loading. Power is exerted on the. cable 79 which takes up the slack on thecalfle 77 and pulls slack on the cables 50. The scraper A. is drawn rear 'ardly from over and around the material which it has carried, and the cable 59, being directly connected to the rear drag cable 79 passing over the sheave 53, pulls the arms 33 downward by reason of the pivotal connections at the point- 61, and the floating member being pivotally connected to the said arms at the point 4S will consequently be drawn downward unt-il all the material has been forced from said scraper, when, after the floating member has reached the bottom of the scraper so that its bottom plate rests upon the inwardly flared portions 18 and 19 and 20 of the walls 10, 17 and 20, the dog 63 has engaged, by its hooked ond, the forwardly extending portion of the angle bar 62. The scraper il is now in a position to begin another operation of dragging and scraping.

The operation described is one where the material is sticky or moist, but where dry material is being scraped and conveyed, the cable 79 may be attached directly to the rear wall 20 of the scraper and the cables 59 and 77vmay be omitted.

in the formo-f the scraper shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. the floating member or load control gate is shown in its preferred form, in that it is permitted to raise or lower approximately ou a level with the surface ov-r which it is operating.

By reference to Figs. 5 and 6, another form of control 81 is shown, and this member has a forward npturned end 32a for passing over the material to be collected, and is provided on its upper face with the angle bars 83 to which are pivotally connected at the points S4 and 86 pairs of upwardly extending arms 87 and 88 having their olii-center portions 89 and 91 pivotally connected at the points 92 and 93 with the adjusting bars 94 and 95. At both sides 13 and 17'LL of the scraper and at a position at the forward end thereof are arms 96 and 97 which extend beyond the front of the scraper proper and are connected by a long rod or bolt 9S which passes through the same and is provided with an ordinary nu t 99 at each end of the same for holding thc same in position. At the point on the V'des oi tue scraper, ust before the said wal art to converge, is another rod or bolt 101 which extends between the sides of the scraper and is held in position by means of nuts 102 located on each end of the same. The front rod 9S is adapted to pass through the arms 88 at the point 103, and the rod 101 is adapted to pass through the arms 37 at the point 104; so as to form a pivotal connection therewith. The arms 941 and converge rearwardly, and are fastened together at the point by a rivet or any other suitable means, and the rear Yall 20 ofthe scraper is provided with an angle bar 107 to which is fastened a limiting member 103 which has an opening 109 through which the joined ends of 'the arms 9.4; and 95 pass. T he oined ends of the bars 94: and are provided with a series of holes 111 through which a bolt or other member is adapted to pass, so that the forward movement of the bars 94C and 95 will be limited by means of the bolt or other member, striking against the member 108. This bolt 112 may be placed in any one of the series of holes extending through the bars 91 and 95, so that the forward movement of 'the bars 9-fl and 95 can be adjusted as desired, and this limitation will likewise limit the movement of the load limiting` plate 31a, as can be readily seen by reference to Fig. 6.

In this form of scraper, the load limiting member 81a will always rise horizontally, .so that Vhe load can be controlled to an eXactness by a simple adjustment of the bolt 112 in the openings 111.

Figs. 7 and 3 show another form of load limiting member 113. The front walls 10 and 17 u of the scraper are provided at the upper front ends of the same with an angle bar which is fastened between the same by means of the rivets or bolts 114, and to this angle bar I have fast ned another angle bar 115, although a T-bar of proper dimensions can be used to eliminate the two angle On the rear ofthe upwardly projecting leg of the top angle bar, 1 fasten two small pieces of angle bars 117 and 113, with suiiicient space between them to admit the bar 119 which is pi votally connected between the two plates by means of a pin 1.21, or any other suitable means. The bars 119 are rigidly connected by means of rivets or bolts 122 to angie barsI 123 which are in turn securely fixed to the load limiting plate 113 by rivets 124. The rear wall 20 of the scraper is provided with an arm 126 which is fastened to said wall by means of the bolts or rivets 127, and has a portion 123 riz-:tending forward of the rear en d of the said scraper, and this portion is provided with a slot 129, as later efqilained.

Gn the extreme rear end of the load limitk.yardly through fthe opeV l1in-9155526 ing plate V113 isa-bracltetmember "131' ot anyV it is provided throughout its length 'with a les 1341Lv into which a. bolt or vother be `placediinorder vto limit Ahe h thc said arm may extend upl f e 129. lt will thus be seen that the load l iting; plate' 113 can 'be adjusted to take ypracti ally any l'load tromtl'fj/ to 100% in this t e of scraper, while inthe type shown in '3i Y `1, 2.andr3, and in TFigs. 5 Aand 6, the sc rapercan be ad- `iusted to take any amount otload trom Zero M100/.5. These particular types ot scraper shown in iiigsf and 6', and 4' andS, are provided with the ordinary torwardand rear drag cables which i hayedeemed unnecessary to show, and can be hauled forward in the regular nu r in which Scrapers ol this type are dra ed at the present time.

it l shows the same arrangement 'of partsas' Figs. 1, 2v and 3,'e/Xcept that in this view, l show the scraper witht'ront andrear rudders 136a and 137 respectively,' and other parts lwhich may or 'may not be .used with the device shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Consider that the arm 3 3 kis pivotally connected at the point 138 with-an arm 139 which is astened to the'tront ot eachside of the scraper at the point 1&1, and lfurther secured by the plates 1%2 to the said sides, and by the angle bar or brace 143 extending` between the arms 139. in order to provide su'liicient rigidity for the saine. Cine or both oftthe said arms 33 is extended beyondthe pivotal point 138 and curved', as at Het? and joins atsuch point with an arm 1&5 to the outer end `olf vwhich is fasf an angl plate 'or plates 136 which l a -a l:uciocr 13%1l by'suitable 'bolt-s 150. rl`he rfront bolt- 150 is, Stationary, while the lt niav-be ext-ended through any oneoi "ries ot 150 in order to ,throw the bladVc oi the i, idder `oli center toz change'the direc-tion oi' travel of the scraper whenthe a iilled with material and dragged tori ward.

series of' ho member may distance wl is securely lixed t the portion H9 of Vthe f pivotally connected ht niefinl'er 1.53 secured wall 2050i the er by any such as bolts orrivet-s." This nectedvwith'the .upwardly eX- rni 46 ofthe bracket 'Lltlby means tted openinglelgin the forward yend so thatiiponA the rise or" :the ioatf g il Y e 3% totheposition shown'inthe dol ted zlines in Elige, the. trent .rudder 136 will be rotated around the ,pivotal'point 138, so as to lower the said rudder to the ground,

Aprevented Jfrom rotatingifby the bolts 204. il

while the rear rudder will be lowered through yits pivotal yconnection inthe upright iember 153. These rudders will be llowered slowly and the parts willfa 'unie the position shown by the dotted'lines yuponthe forward movement oi the scraper; he dorf has been tripped n.ermit Ao member 3l to be rased by the admission of material beneath the same. The lull distance f' *hich the mem` `ber 34 permitted torise. `is governed by the chain 6), as explained in connection with the description of F' s.,1,*2 and v lt is evidentv the dog 63 will prevent thescraper from performing' any worl; on the n ateria so long' as it is in engagement with he angle 'bar' which vholds the tioatii conrol member 3% in its lowermost positiomand 't is also eridentthat by the use of the chain '9, the limit of upward movement can be esab'lished, but so 'tar no 'arrangement has been made to control the movement ot the member between the'lowermost position andnpward limited position.` Unless Asome control is had between these two positionsythe scraper is Alett to 'tillust as rapidly als the ma terial can be cut andjpassed into the scraper to raise the member 3% to its limited position. This control 'l accomplish by attachingv ,a plate 'orbar 201 to either the back of the scraper or to the'braclret 57 as shown in F l and by suitable bolts or `rivets202. The outer endr ot said bar has a winch head or drum barrel 203 rigidly mounted thereon, and is cable or rope 206 is 'attached in any suitable manner to the arm 33 and when 'thedog 03 is tripped to permit the member -l-l to rise in the 4scraper the saidrope or cable drawn taut and wrapped two or three times around the winch head rom'which it is gradually :ted or played out to control .the rise ot the arm 33, and consequent-ly the member. 3l.

Atthe upper end ot the dogy 63 'is link 156 to which is attached a cable 15T. This cable will be found on Figs. 1 andl il', and itsV purpose will be understood in connection with the diagrammatic viewsshown in Higgs.' 9 and 10.V lIn these Views,.1 contemplate the use two sc rapers operating in tandem, whichl has heretofore been considered impractical in con'- nection with drag Scrapers; rlhe principal objection tothe use `oit two scraoers has been the inability to properly control the filling ot' the Scrapers at the 'desired point." lx/various devices havebeen tried; but when-the 'scraper is dragged forward, n itV loads'.inune'diately, and the material, for this reason,` isfall' carried rro'monfe point.r This will be readily understood when it is coi'isidered that' the dumping point isniost alwaysin one .position or at least vin a position .that changes Vvery slowly, so that it "two 'Scrapers 'were 'being used, one 'scraper wouldv always have to' load at the Y saine Y 'time the other s" raper .was" ref leasing its k"loadf This "would "prohibit any actual control of the point where either of the scrapers are to be loaded, which, of course, is absolutely necessary for etiicient operation, and for that reason, the use of two scrapers has not been successful..

. In my invention, I attach the diag cable 7 9 from the rear of the scraper around a guide block 158, thence to another guide block 159, thence to the rear of the other scraper. rlhe forward drag cable 76 on each of the scrapers extends around a guide block 16() and 160, and thence to the drums 161 and 162. These drums form part of an ordinary friction drum hoist which I have designated by the numeral 163, and an operator is in control of the same. The guide blocks .160 and are secured to a post or pillar 164 which is securely held in position by means of a series of guys and deadmen, 166.

At a suitable position in front ol' he guide blocks 16() and 160, I have ,ilaeed a hopper 167, into which we will presinne that the ma terial from the scraper is to be dumped.

At a.. Joint a short di" 'ance bf'iond the guide b ocks 158 and 159, are additional guide blocks 168 and 169, and these blocks are all held in position on cables 171 and 17 2 which pass over a suitable frame 173 and 174 respectively, and are preferably anchored on deadmen, as at 176, so as to keep the cables in tautcondition at all times. Extending outside the cables 79 and 76, which are the drag cables for the scrapers, is a cable 177 which passes through the guide blocks 168 and 169 to suitable guide blocks 178 and 17 9, fastened to the pillar 1611, and both ends of said cable are then connected in opposite directions over a loose ruiming drum 181, which provided with an ordinary brake 182 for the purpose hereinafter explained. It is :in connection with this control that the cable 157 is adapted to be used. This cable, being connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 'l, to the link 156 in the upper end of the dog 66, is fastened by its other end to any suitable point, such, for instance, as 183 on the cable 177 surrmnnling the dragr cables, while I have indicated its connection on the other scraper by the character 184. Let ns consider that. the scraper-s are in the position shown in Fig. 9 and .it is desired to put the se apers in operation by moving the scraper A in the direction shown by the arrow B and the scraper A in the direction shown by the arrow (l. As soon as the scraper A commences its rear increment', it backs olf the vload which it has carried to the hopper 167, and the scraper A starts forward to gather a load. The cable 177, operating loosely, will be pulled around, and while 011e end is fed onto the drum 1.81. theother end will be fed olf until such a. time as the scraper B has reached the exact point where the operator desires to take a crt of the material. At that precise moment, he operates the brake 182 on the drum'lSl which causes the cable 177 to cease its movement. and the scraper A, being positively drawn' forward by means of the drum 162, the cable 157 will be pulled sharply by such action and will overcome the tension on the spring 65, thus disengaging the hooked end of the dog 63 from the forwardly facing flange of the angle bar 62, so that the floating control member is permitted to rise in the scraper and thus take its load from the point desired. then the dog is released, the operator immediately releases the brake, thus allowing the cable 17 7 to travel freely until such time as it is desired to load opposite scraper A.

It will readily be seen that, by reason of the cable 59, passing through the sheave 58, and being connected to the link 61 on the-arms 33, the material which is contained within. the scraper will be pressed from the bottom of the same immediately power is placed on the cable 79 for taking up the slack which has been pulled in the cable 77. This down ward movement of the armel will again cause the hooked end of the dog 63 to engage with the forward leg of the angle bar 62 and thus lock the control member 34 in its lowered position in the scraper A. The action of the spring 65 on the dog 63 is limited by the pin 186 which is xed in the arm 33, so that the tapered outer portion 187 on the hook of the hooked end of the dog will always be kept at a point forward of the eX treme edge of the forwardly extending leg of the angle bar 62. The cable 59 may be dispensed with when the material being cnt and collected is dry, as in such case it will readily fall from the scraper without any resistance and the member 34 will fall to the bottom of the scraper of its own weight when the material is removed.

It will be apparent, of course, that the hopper which I have shown 'and designated by the numeral 167, is only shown to illustrate how the Scrapers can be dragged to a position over a hopper, and up an incline 188 which may be composed of the material itself, ormay be an inclined platform leading to the hopper, but the scraper may merely convey the material from the point at which it is cut and collected to another point for filling, in which case no hopper or other device would be necessary. The loose running drum. 181 is not connected in any way with any power or other means and is provided with a brake 182, as explained, for the puringrese "lillhile l have shown and described this automatic control of the, load control member, it will be readily understood that an op-Y rator may be placed at any point where it is desired that the scraper shall tak-e its fill, and hemay trip the dog 53 so thatthe two s'rapers Vcould be operated without the use of the outer cable 177, but its use would eliminate the necessity of having an operator along the line of travel of the s crapers, and va single man, stationed beside the friction drum hoist 163 and in a position to operate the brake 182, could control both scrapers.

' f It is lbelieved that my invention, its mode of operation, the advantages thereof, and preferred apparatus 'for carrying the same into efl'ect, will be readily understood from the foregoing withoutv further description, and it also should be manifest that the invention is capable olv Yforming a` wide range of varia tions without departing from the scope thereof as deined in the following claims.

, l claim:

l. A bottomless scraper having a floating plate so adjustable that the quantity of material'permitted to enter said scraper may be fixed at any pointfrom Zero' to one hundred per centcap'acity. A

2. "In a. bottoinless scraper, a floating 4top member Yinitially preventing any material from entering said scraper, means for permitting the rise of said floatingmember at any desired point in its travel, and means for preventing further rise of said Amember when the scraper has received a- Y predetermined quantity of said material.

3. rlhe combination with a bottomless scraper, 'of a floating member adapted to swing upwardly when actuated by the material entering the scraper, and downwardly vwhen actuated gravity as the material leaves the scraper, and means for limiting the movement` of said floating member to predeterniinatel;T regulate the quantity of material carried by said scraper.

'slyTlie Vcombination with abo tomless vscraper of Heating means adj ustably mounted therein for regulating the quantity of material to'be ca'i'riedby said scraper.

-- `5."l`lie combination with a bottoiuless scraper, ot' a floating member for predeter- V`ininate'l'j, regulating the .amount oli material named means yand said scraper for controlling the depth of cut of said scraper.

'7.' The combination with a bottoinless scraper. of means adjustably mounted for predeterminately regulating the quantity of material to be carried by said scraper, and a scraper'` having a, forwardscraper, 'and `means-operativelyconnecting said'floating member with'the'body ofthe `vscraperand 'adapted to exert a downward pressure on said'lloating member to restrain the speed vof the upward rise of said floating member." thereby regulating the speed at which the material will enter said scraper when loading. i

9. The combination with a bottomless scraper, of afloating top for regulating the quantity of material to be carried by said scraper, and means positioned on said floating Vtop for digging the material to be carried. l

l0. The combination with a bottomless scraper, ofa floating top for regulating the quantity or" material to be carried by said scraper, and digging teeth positioned on said iloatingtop lfor diggingfthe material .tobe carried thereby. o 11. VThe Vcombination of a bottomless scraper, a floating member ysuspended between the walls thereof and normally adapted to rest on the material to be carrier means positioned on said floating member i or loosening 4the material to be carried, said floating member and 4means 'being Yadapted to rise upwardly by thepiessure of the ma- Y terial entering said scraperas it is dragged forward and adapted to lower to its normal digging position when the scraper is emptied as it is dragged rearwardly.

W12. In combination with a bottomless scraper of floating means 'attached forward of the digging edge of the scraper and means on said floating means for loosening the material to be conveyed bysaid scraper, said loosening meansbeing adapted to rise upward as the scraper fills.

13. rThe combination with,V abottoinless scraper, of a floating top for regulating the quantity of materialto becai'ried by said scraper, and means on said floating top for guiding said scraper when loading.

14. The combination with -a bottoiiiless scraper, of a Heating top for regulating the quantity of :material to be carried by said scraper. `and adjustable guiding means on the `lowerside ofsai'd floating top for-directing Ythe cut by the scraper when loading.

l5; rIhe combinationwith a Vbottoinlcss floating member therein for regulaE quantity of material to be-carried b scraper,- and means controlledfby the posit-i .ofithe -saidfloating nieiiilber-to :throw a'icll .seiaper outV of linesiwitiithe direetioiiof'pul'l `drag cable, of a.

`rio i y scraperV out of line with the direction of pull of saidY drag cable to permit said scraper to take its load of material at said out of line point, said means being so mounted as to permit the scraper to be thrown baclr into line with said drag cable when filled.

17. InY combination with a bottomless scraper having a forward dragcable, oi' a floating member and means on said floating member to th row .said scraper ont ott line with the direction of the pull oi'A said drag cable to permit saidnscral" r to (alie its load at said out-of-line point. i

'18. T he combination with a bettoinless scraper, of a floating top 'for regulating the quantity of material te be carried by said scraper, of means carried by said Vfloating top for engaging with and scraping the side walls of said scraper. i Y

Y 19. The combination with a bottomless scraper, of a Heating member therein normally adapted te prevent-the entrance of material to said scraper during its forward draggingmovement, and means for preventing material from lodging on said member.

20. In a bottoinless scraper, a floating plate adapted to limit the quantity of material to be carried by said scraper, guide members en said plate for directing the cnt by the scraper and adapted to be raised from guiding position as the material. raises said plate, and other guiding means adapted to guide Vthe scraper to the point et dumping after it has been filled to its predetermined capacity.

21. The combination with a lbottomless scraper,fof a floating member for predeterminately regulating the amount of material to be carried byisaid scraper, and means for forcing said floating member downward to dischargethe material trom said scraper.

22. In a boitomless scraper, a I'loating member, a dog adapted to hold said member in its lowermost position to prevent the enl` trance of any material into said scraper. s id dog being adapted to be tripped at any uesired point for permitting said floating memher te rise thereby allowing material to enter said scraper, and means for preventing inrther rise of said member when the scraper has received a predetermined quantity of said material. Y

23. The combination with a bottomless scraper, of a Heating member for predeterminately regulating the amount of material te be carried by said scraper, a dog locking said floating member in the bottom of said scraper for normally preventing the entrance et material inte said scraper, and a cable attached to said dog for forcibly tripping the same to permit said floating member to rise in said scraper and take Yits load when the same luis reached `the desired point of filling.

2li. The combination with a bottomless scraper, oit a` floating member for predeterminatcly regiiilating the amount of material to be carried by sai d scraper, means normally preventing the rise of said floating member in said scraper, 'liront and rear drag cables connecting said scraper, a loose running cable, a cable connecting said means and said loose running cable, and external means -for momentarily stoppingY said loose running cable whereby said first named means Vis released to permit said scraper to be loaded at any desired point.

S255. In an excavating apparatus, the combination with a plurality of bottemless Scrapers, oi lead control means mounted on cach scraper normally preventing said scraper 'from loading, and'means to release the lead control means at will, thereby controlling each'scraper to take its load at the most advantageous point in the operation.

26. In an excavating apparatus, the combination with two bottomless Scrapers of load control means adjustably mounted on each scraper normally preventing the scraper from loading, a remote power unit, means to limit the amount of load carried in each scraper, a forward drag cable attached to the forward part of each scraper, a rearward drag cable attached to one scraper passing through sheaves adapted to be anchored at the rear of the area being excavated, and attached to the other scraper, and means to al tornately release the load control member, on either of said Scrapers at will, thereby controlling each scraper to take its load at the most advantageous point in the operation.

QT. In an excavating apparatus, thecombination with plurality of bottomle'ss scrapers, et load control means mounted on each scraper, normally preventing the scraper from loading and means to release the load control VVmeans at the will of the operator, thereby controlling each scraper te take its load at the mostV advantageous point in the operation, and means to limit the amount of Load carried in each scraper.

ln, witness et the foregoing I aiiix myrsiglit.; 

